Difference between revisions of "Verbs preceded by "gei""

Revision as of 07:21, 24 October 2017

Level

B1 / HSK2
Level

B1
Level

HSK2
Similar to
- Verbs that take double objects (A2)
- Expressing "for" with "gei" (B1)
- Expressing "until" with "dao" (B1)
- Using "dui" with verbs (B1)
- Verbs followed by "gei" (B1)
Similar to
- Expressing "for" with "gei" (HSK2)
- Using "dui" with verbs (HSK2)
- Verbs followed by "gei" (HSK2)
- Verbs that take double objects (HSK2)
- Expressing "until" with "dao" (HSK4)
Used for
Keywords

给

The word 给 (gěi) literally means "to give," but is frequently used in Chinese to indicate the target of a verb. The target is who or what the verb is aimed or directed at.

Structure

Subj. + 给 + Target + [Verb Phrase]

Examples

现在不要给他打电话。Xiànzài bùyào gěi tā dǎ diànhuà.Don't give him a phone call now.
请快点给我回电话。Qǐng kuàidiǎn gěi wǒ huí diànhuà.Please return my phone call soon.
你可以给大家读一下吗？Nǐ kěyǐ gěi dàjiā dú yīxià ma?Could you please read it for everybody?
我给你发了一封邮件。Wǒ gěi nǐ fā le yī fēng yóujiàn.I sent you an email.
他说他会给我写信。Tā shuō tā huì gěi wǒ xiěxìn.He said he would write letters to me.
小时候，妈妈每天都给我讲故事。Xiǎo shíhou, māma měitiān dōu gěi wǒ jiǎng gùshi.When I was young, every day my mother would tell me stories.
爸爸应该给儿子道歉。Bàba yīnggāi gěi érzi dàoqiàn.The father should apologize to his son.
给我们介绍一下你的男朋友吧。Gěi wǒmen jièshào yīxià nǐ de nánpéngyou ba.Talk about this matter to me.
她的粉丝常常给她寄礼物。Tā de fěnsī chángcháng gěi tā jì lǐwù.Her fans often send her gifts.
谁能给我解释一下这是为什么？Shéi néng gěi wǒ jiěshì yīxià zhè shì wèishénme?Talk about this matter to me.

Chinese speakers use 给 (gěi) in some interesting ways, similar to how English speakers use "to give," as in "to give someone a phone call" or "to give someone a reply."

Alternative Structure

Although the structure above is the best one to learn first, some verbs frequently use 给, but have the 给 coming after the verb, rather than before. It's best to think of these as exceptions to the rule above, and you can learn more about these exceptions by reading about "gei" following verbs.

Sources and Further Reading

Books

Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 170) →buy
Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 154) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1) (pp. 143) →buy
New Practical Chinese Reader 1 (新实用汉语课本1)(2nd ed) (pp. 165) →buy

Websites

Chinesegrammar.info: When 给 (gěi) comes directly after verbs in Mandarin Chinese (verb-给 compounds)

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 *你 可以 <em>给</em> 大家 读 一下 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ kěyǐ <em>gěi</em> dàjiā dú yīxià ma?</span><span class="trans">Could you please read it for everybody?</span>
 *我 <em>给</em> 你 发 了 一 封 邮件 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>gěi</em> nǐ fā le yī fēng yóujiàn.</span><span class="trans">I sent you an email.</span>
-*我 要 <em>给</em> 你 看 我们 的 新 产品 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yào <em>gěi</em> nǐ kàn wǒmen de xīn chǎnpǐn.</span><span class="trans">I want you to take a look at our new product.</span>
+*他 说 他 会 <em>给</em> 我 写信 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shuō tā huì <em>gěi</em> wǒ xiěxìn.</span><span class="trans">He said he would write letters to me.</span>
 *小 时候 ，妈妈 每天 都 <em>给</em> 我 讲 故事 。<span class="pinyin">Xiǎo shíhou, māma měitiān dōu <em>gěi</em> wǒ jiǎng gùshi.</span><span class="trans">When I was young, every day my mother would tell me stories.</span>
 *爸爸 应该 <em>给</em> 儿子 道歉 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba yīnggāi <em>gěi</em> érzi dàoqiàn.</span><span class="trans">The father should apologize to his son.</span>